BBC Micro Bit Mini PC Delayed Until 2016

The BBC are recently reviving and old ancient relationship which the corporation once had with computing. A long, long time ago, when computers were strange boxes filled with scary magic and command lines, the BBC put out the original BBC Micro computer. It was pretty big by our standards, but back then people were obviously wowed by the small size and utility the device possessed.

Today in 2015 us millennials cannot even speculate what this primitive device did. We have no idea how it sounded, or even what it actually was for. But we know it isn’t a myth, or legend, and did indeed once exist. Archaeologists maybe will unearth a surviving example… okay, okay, we’re kidding around. There are plenty of the old models knocking around today.

So anyway in order to get back in the computer game, the BBC have a new plan, this time to distribute a single circuit board, genuinely ‘micro’ computer (dubbed The Micro Bit) out to young aspiring coders for absolutely free. Year 7 pupils will be able to catch the device, but we have recently heard there’s going to be a delay to the Micro Bit.

Microsoft has helped develop a web-based tool that can be used to program and simulate the Micro Bit

Some really lucky 11 and 12 year olds are going to have to wait until early 2016 for the Micro Bit, as a power supply issue has forced the BBC to roll back the tech a bit to double A batteries instead of a proposed Lithium battery. Yes, the device doesn’t even have mains power. “As a result of our rigorous testing process, we’ve decided to make some minor revisions to the device – getting it right for children and teachers before we manufacture one million units is our priority,” Said a BBC spokesperson

The Micro Bit packs 18 times the processor of the original (fossil) Micro – and recently has got some programmable buttons and a motion sensor on board too. But we’re actually pretty excited for how the miniature PC is going to be used, and what sort of customization and experiments we might see, such as an external case, since the chip is bare so far.

It’s going to be pretty neat to see some Micro Bit creations later on in 2016, and hopefully the investment by the BBC will help boost tech in the UK.